Faslane-based leading photographer Stevie Burke give the Helensburgh Scout Group a lesson in photography.
By Kim Hardie
A CLYDE-based Royal Navy photographer popped along to a Helensburgh Scout Group meeting to show what life is like “through the lens” of a RN photographer.
Leading Photographer Stevie Burke (35) attended a Helensburgh Scout Group meeting to show the young Scouts what photographers in the Senior Service do and to show off the kit and equipment they use when deployed around the world. The Scout group were also given a few hints and tips on how to take the best snaps for their upcoming charity calendar.
Stevie from Hull in East Yorkshire said: “It was a great evening with the children really engaged, and they loved trying on all of the kit and equipment that I brought with me”.
The Helensburgh Scout group will all be taking pictures throughout the year to put together a charity calendar. After giving a brief on life as a photographer in the Royal Navy, Stevie gave some practical lessons to the young Scouts. This involved showing them some tips and tricks using their camera phones and getting them to carry out some tasks together.
Stevie, who will soon deploy with Arbroath-based 45 Commando Royal Marines, added: “It was great to see the children really engaged when we carried out the practical camera lessons. Everybody has a camera on their phone, and it was nice to show them different ways of using it. All of the children were having loads of fun jumping around and taking pictures, it was good to see a group of young kids enjoying photography.”
The Scout Association is the UK’s biggest mixed youth organisation. Every year Scouts helps 450,000 young people in the UK to experience the outdoors; interact with others and gain confidence.
This year the the Royal Navy’s Photographic Branch celebrates its 100th Birthday, formed in 1919, initially for reconnaissance and intelligence purposes, the official photographers quickly developed a sideline – producing pictures for their shipmates to snap up.
Today the photographic branch is busier than ever, recording the Royal Navy and Royal Marines at work – and at play – and supporting front-line missions.
After completing intensive training at the Defence School of Photography at RAF Cosford, photographers move to Royal Navy, Royal Marines or Fleet Air Arm bases to work alongside their colleagues.